Secure delivery apparatus

ABSTRACT

Security apparatus ( 10 ) for the secure receipt and retention of articles ( 30 ) delivered thereto. The security apparatus ( 10 ) comprises a housing ( 12 ) having an upper chamber ( 14 ) and a lower chamber ( 16 ) separated from one another by a movable partition ( 15 ). The upper chamber ( 14 ) has an entrance opening ( 18 ) for the passage therethrough of a product ( 30 ) to be delivered to the apparatus ( 10 ) and a pivoted closure member ( 20 ) for said entrance opening ( 18 ). The movable partition ( 15 ) is slidable inwardly and outwardly of the apparatus ( 10 ) between respectively a closing position in which it separates the upper and lower chambers ( 14,16 ) from one another and an open position in which it permits inter-communication between the upper and lower chambers ( 14,16 ). Interaction means ( 25 ) are provided between the partition ( 15 ) and said closure member ( 20 ) whereby the closure member ( 20 ) can only be moved to open said entrance opening ( 18 ) when the partition ( 15 ) is in said closing position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus which permits delivery of anarticle into the apparatus and for the article's secure retention in theapparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Increasingly nowadays people buy products remotely, e.g. bytelephone or via the Internet, for delivery to their homes by the selleror his agent. Frequently, the purchaser is away from home at the time ofdelivery and the product cannot be left in a secure location. Variousproposals have been made to deal with this problem. One such proposalprovides a container having a door openable solely by a coded electricalsignal input from a key touch pad, the appropriate code being sent, e.g.by mobile phone, to delivery personnel authorised by the intendedrecipient of the delivery. An example of such an arrangement is thatknown as “BearBox” promoted on the Internet site: www.bearbox.com. Suchan arrangement has the disadvantages

[0003] (a) of permitting a subsequent delivery-man access to apreviously delivered item and

[0004] (b) the difficulty of providing codes to delivery personnel.

[0005] To overcome these disadvantages other past proposals provide acontainer divided into first and second compartments, the delivered itembeing placed in the first compartment and moved therefrom to the secondcompartment when or after the door to the first compartment is closed.To provide security, restriction means is provided to prevent access tothe second compartment when the door to the first compartment is opened.One such restriction means comprises an attachment to the door of thefirst compartment which moves to block access to the second compartmentwhen the door to the first compartment is opened. Another suchrestriction means comprises a hinged flap or partition that tilts afterthe item has been delivered, e.g. the arrangement known as “dVault”promoted on the Internet site: www.dvault.net.

[0006] To allow for operation of such restriction means the overall sizeof the container must be very much larger than the maximum size ofarticle to be delivered. For example with the secure delivery apparatusdescribed in GB-2242481, it is estimated that the container must beapproximately twice the depth and three times the height of the largestitem that can be delivered into it. This dimensional disadvantageappears also to apply to the prior art arrangement disclosed for examplein EP-0576311. Other disadvantages, including unduly complex mechanismsfor moving the delivered item from the first or delivery compartment tothe second or storage compartment are disclosed in GB-2204914 andGB-2262132.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] With a view to obviating—or at least reducing—the above-mentionedand/or other disadvantages of prior art arrangements, the presentinvention envisages the provision of security apparatus for the securereceipt and retention of articles delivered thereto, said securityapparatus comprising a housing having an upper chamber and a lowerchamber separated from one another by a movable partition, characterisedin that

[0008] the upper chamber has an entrance opening for the passagetherethrough of a product to be delivered to the apparatus and a pivotedclosure member for said entrance opening,

[0009] said movable partition is slidable inwardly and outwardly of theapparatus between respectively a closing position in which it separatesthe upper and lower chambers from one another and an open position inwhich it permits inter-communication between the upper and lowerchambers, and in that

[0010] interaction means are provided between the partition and saidclosure member whereby the closure member can only be moved to open saidentrance opening when the partition is in said closing position.

[0011] Preferably, said interaction means comprises at least oneprotuberance extending at an angle from the closure member, and at leastone opening in the partition engaged by said at least one protuberance.Advantageously said interaction means may comprise a pair ofprotuberances and a pair of partition openings spaced apart and adjacentopposite sides of the apparatus.

[0012] The apparatus comprises a lockable door through which thedelivered product or products can be removed from the apparatus. Thedoor may be unlockable by a key or by an alpha and/or numeric codeoperable directly on the door or on a padlock securing the door and adoorframe portion of the apparatus. The said door is preferably locatedbelow the entrance opening. Alternatively, said door may be located in aside of the apparatus or opposite the entrance opening and, in such analternative location, the door may have a height permitting access, whenthe door is open, to both upper and lower chambers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] By way of example, apparatus embodying this invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: FIG. 1is a schematic vertical section through security apparatus in oneembodiment of this invention, FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional viewalong the line II-II of FIG. 1, FIGS. 3 4 5 and 6 are similardiagrammatic views of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in sequential stages ofuse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE(S) OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The illustrated security apparatus 10 is for the secure receiptand retention of articles such as 30 (FIGS. 4-6) delivered thereto, e.g.by a postman, courier or a delivery company's personnel. As shown, thesecurity apparatus 10 comprises a housing 12 of generally parallelepipedform. The housing 12 has an upper chamber 14 and a lower chamber 16separated from one another by a movable partition 15. The upper chamber14 has an entrance opening 18 for the passage therethrough of a productor article 30 to be delivered to the apparatus. A closure member 20 forsaid entrance opening 18 is pivoted to the inside side walls of thehousing 12, the pivot axis being designated 19 in the drawings. Pivotalopening of closure member 20 is effected manually by pulling on a handle21 located adjacent the upper free end of the closure member 20 (when inits upright ‘closing’ condition). Closing of closure member 20 may belikewise effected manually or, as is preferred, automatically by springmeans (not shown) acting to close the closure member 20 when manualoperation is released.

[0015] The movable partition 15 is supported by lateral guide rails 17and is slidable along them inwardly and outwardly of the apparatus 10through a front slot 11 and between respectively a closing position(FIGS. 1-5) in which it separates the upper and lower chambers 14,16from one another, and an open position (FIG. 6) in which it permitsinter-communication between the upper and lower chambers 14,16. Slidingmotion is effected by manual action on a handle 13 attached to theforward edge of the partition 15. A stop member 27 (FIGS. 3-6) dependsfrom the rear of partition 15 to define, by engagement of the front wallof the apparatus, an end limit to outward sliding motion of thepartition 15 and restrain the partition from total withdrawal from theapparatus (see FIG. 6).

[0016] The apparatus comprises interaction means 25 between thepartition 15 and the closure member 20 whereby the closure member 20 canonly be moved to open said entrance opening 18 when the partition is insaid closing position (of FIGS. 1-5).

[0017] To provide the interaction means 25 of this embodiment, a pair ofright-angled extensions 22 protrude in the form of lips from the loweredge 23 of the closure member 20—one adjacent each side edge of theclosure member 20—and, at corresponding locations, a pair of openings 24are provided in the partition 15 which receive the protruding extensions22 of closure member 20 when the latter is pivoted (about pivot axis 19)to open the entrance opening 18 to upper chamber 14. The engagement ofthe openings 24 by the protruding extensions or lips 22 of the closuremember 20, prevent sliding motion of the partition 15 outwardly of thehousing 12. In other words, when the entrance opening 18 is renderedaccessible for the passage therethrough of an item 30 being delivered,the partition 15 remains in its closing position in which it separatesthe upper and lower chambers 14,16 from one another.

[0018] The apparatus 10 comprises a pair of cover plates 26 to overliethe openings 24 and the protruding extensions 22 of closure member 20when the latter is in its upright position and closing the entranceopening 18 to upper chamber 14. Optionally, in a modified construction,the pair of cover plates 26 may be coalesced into a single elongateplate extending from side-to-side of the entrance opening 18. The coverplate(s) 26 also serve(s) to hinder access—via the openings 24—to theprotruding extensions 22 by thieves or vandals wishing to damage theapparatus 10.

[0019] The illustrated apparatus 10 also comprises a lockable door 28through which the delivered product or products can be removed from theapparatus. The door 28 may be unlockable by a key or by an alpha and/ornumeric code operable directly on the door or on a padlock securing thedoor and a doorframe portion of the apparatus. The door 28 is preferablylocated in the front wall of housing 12 below the sliding partition 15and the entrance opening 18. Alternatively, door 28 may be located in aside of the apparatus or (as shown in FIG. 1) opposite the entranceopening 19. In such an alternative location, the door 28 may have aheight permitting access, when the door is open, to both upper and lowerchambers 14,16.

[0020] It will be appreciated that providing the door 28 in the frontwall of housing 12 allows the apparatus 10 to be ‘built in’ to a cavitytherefore in a brick or concrete wall and secured to such wall by theback or a side of the apparatus 10.

[0021] It will also be appreciated that the by providing the door 28(whatever its location) with a code-operable lock or padlock allows anarticle (e.g. a faulty product to be returned to its supplier ormanufacturer) to be collected from the lower compartment 16 by acollector authorised to remove the article and to whom the code for thelock or padlock has been previously given.

[0022] It will be noted that the illustrated apparatus of thisembodiment provides no ‘space invading’ inward extensions of the closuremember 20, of the partition 15 or of the door 28 and accordingly thevolume available for occupation by delivered articles is maximised.

[0023] The stages of the delivery process is apparent from FIGS. 3-6. InFIG. 3, the apparatus 10 is closed and empty of delivered articles. FIG.4 illustrates the arrival of an article 30 for delivery, the closuremember 20 being pivoted downwardly to open the entrance opening 18 andpermit passage therethrough of the article 30 into the upper chamber 14whilst the lowered position of closure member 20 locks the slidingpartition 15 in position—in which it separates compartments 14,16 fromone another. FIG. 5 illustrates delivered article 30 within the upperchamber 14 and the closure member 20 closing the entrance opening 18 anddisengaging parts 22,24 to unlock the partition and permit of itssliding action. Such sliding movement is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherebycompartments 14,16 intercommunicate with one anothr and deliveredarticle 30 falls freely under gravity into the bottom of lower chamber16. The floor of chamber 16 may optionally be provided with a foamcarpet or other cushioning means.

[0024] In one preferred form of this invention, the housing 12 isfabricated of steel or of strong plastics material to have a width of520 mm, a depth of 550 mm, a total height of 900 mm, and a height forthe entrance opening 18 of the order of 300 mm. However it is to beappreciated that the invention is not restricted to these particulardimensions which can each be varied considerably without departing fromthe intended scope of the present invention.

[0025] It will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of theinvention can be used for delivered items that are very large inrelation to the overall size of the housing 12. For example, the storagecompartment 16 can have a height as small as approximately one- half thetotal size of housing 12 (as compared with only one-third or one-quarterwith some prior art arrangements). Furthermore, to accommodate articlesthat have an increased depth it only requires that the depth of the boxbe increased by a corresponding distance rather than by aproportionately increased distance.

[0026] In a modification, the sliding partition can slide in a sidewaysdirection (inwardly and outwardly of a side slot) instead in a forwardsand backwards direction (inwardly and outwardly of the front slot 11).

[0027] In another modification, the handle 21 is replaced by a fingerhole in the closure member 20 and/or the handle 23 is replaced by afinger hole in the partition 15.

[0028] Other modifications and embodiments of the invention, which willbe readily apparent to those skilled in this art, are to be deemedwithin the ambit and scope of the invention, and the particularembodiment(s) hereinbefore described may be varied in construction anddetail, e.g. interchanging (where appropriate or desired) differentfeatures of each, without departing from the scope of the patentmonopoly hereby sought.

1. Security apparatus (10) for the secure receipt and retention ofarticles (30) delivered thereto, said security apparatus (10) comprisinga housing (12) having a plurality of sides at angles to one another, thehousing being separated into an upper chamber (14) and a lower chamber(16) by a movable partition (15), characterised in that an entranceopening (18) is provided in one of said sides to the upper chamber (14)for permitting the horizontal passage therethrough of a product (30) tobe delivered to the apparatus (10), a pivoted closure member (20) isprovided for said entrance opening (18), said movable partition (15) isslidable inwardly and outwardly of the apparatus (10) betweenrespectively a closing position in which it separates the upper andlower chambers (14,16) from one another and an open position in which itpermits inter-communication between the upper and lower chambers(14,16), and in that interaction means (25) are provided between thepartition (15) and said closure member (20) whereby the closure member(20) can only be moved to open said entrance opening (18) when thepartition (15) is in said closing position.
 2. Security apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterised in that said interaction means (25)comprises at least one protuberance (22) extending at an angle from theclosure member (20), and at least one opening (24) in the partition (15)engaged by said at least one protuberance (22).
 3. Security apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterised in that said interaction means (25)comprises a pair of protuberances (22) and a pair of partition openings(24) spaced apart and adjacent opposite sides of the apparatus (10). 4.Security apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by a lockabledoor through which the delivered product or products (30) can be removedfrom the apparatus (10), the said door being unlockable by a key or byan alpha and/or numeric code operable directly on the door or on apadlock securing the door and a doorframe portion of the apparatus. 5.Security apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the saiddoor is located below the entrance opening (18.)
 6. Security apparatusaccording to claim 4, characterized in that the said door is located ina side of the apparatus or opposite the entrance opening (18). 7.Security apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the doorhas a height permitting access, when the door is open, to both upper andlower chambers (14, 16).
 8. Security apparatus according to claim 2,characterized in that said interaction means (25) comprises a pair ofprotuberances (22) and a pair of partition openings (24) spaced apartand adjacent opposites sides of the apparatus (10).
 9. Securityapparatus according to claim 2 and characterized by a lockable doorthrough which the delivered product or products (30) can be removed fromthe apparatus (10), the said door being unlockable by a key or by analpha and/or numeric code operable directly on the door or on a padlocksecuring the door and a doorframe portion of the apparatus.
 10. Securityapparatus according to claim 3 and characterized by a lockable doorthrough which the delivered product or products (30) can be removed fromthe apparatus (10), the said door being unlockable by a key or by analpha and/or numeric code operable directly on the door or on a padlocksecuring the door and a doorframe portion of the apparatus.